--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You may leave this life at any moment…" description: "\"“You may leave this life at any moment: have this possibility in your mind in all that you do or say or think. Now departure from the world of men is n..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e79/marcus-aurelius-139_life_you-may-leave-this-life-at-any-moment-ha_1865735.jpg" --- # You may leave this life at any moment: have this… ![“You may leave this life at any moment: have this possibility in your mind in all that you do or say or think. Now departure from the world of men is nothing to fear. If gods exist: because they would not involve you in any harm. If they do not exist, or if they have no care for humankind, then…” quote by Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e79/marcus-aurelius-139_life_you-may-leave-this-life-at-any-moment-ha_1865735.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e79/marcus-aurelius-139_life_you-may-leave-this-life-at-any-moment-ha_1865735.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e79/marcus-aurelius-139_life_you-may-leave-this-life-at-any-moment-ha_1865735.jpg) > ““You may leave this life at any moment: have this possibility in your mind in all that you do or say or think. Now departure from the world of men is nothing to fear. If gods exist: because they would not involve you in any harm. If they do not exist, or if they have no care for humankind, then what is life to me in a world devoid of gods, or devoid of providence?”” [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Contemplating mortality reminds us to live fully, regardless of belief in gods or fate. **In simple terms:** Thinking about death can inspire purposeful living. Key Takeaway Live intentionally, without fear of the unknown. Themes mortality purpose existentialism Mood philosophical inspirational Type reflective existential When to use this quote - personal decision‑making - ethical dilemmas - spiritual contemplation - daily routines Key Concepts stoicism free will meaning Questions to Reflect On - What does mortality mean to you? - How does belief shape your actions? A Different Perspective The quote assumes a universal fear of death that may not apply to everyone. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Devoid Gods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devoid-gods-2540836/) [Devoid Providence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devoid-providence-2540835/) [Gods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gods/) [Gods Devoid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gods-devoid-2540834/) [Gods Exist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gods-exist-449731/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Now departure from the world of men is nothing to fear, if gods exist: because they would not involve you in any harm. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/now-departure-from-the-world-of-men-is-nothing-to-fear-if-gods-exist/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [Since it is possible that thou mayest depart from life this very moment, regulate every act and thought accordingly. But to go away from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/since-it-is-possible-that-thou-mayest-depart-from-life-this-very/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [“Most witches don’t believe in gods. They know that the gods exist, of course. They even deal with them occasionally. But they don’t believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/most-witches-don-t-believe-in-gods-they-know-that-the-gods-exist-of/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [The gods, if they exist, are just the people who happen to live on the other side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-myers/the-gods-if-they-exist-are-just-the-people-who-happen-to-live-on-the/) [Brendan Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-myers/) > [But if the gods do not exist at all - then we are lost,' I said. On the contrary - we are found!' said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-jong/but-if-the-gods-do-not-exist-at-all-then-we-are-lost-i-said-on-the/) [Erica Jong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-jong/) > [“I know the gods exist, whether i believe them worth worshipping is an entirely different matter. Brakandaran té Carn”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-fallon/i-know-the-gods-exist-whether-i-believe-them-worth-worshipping-is-an/) [Jennifer Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-fallon/) > [I cannot prove that gods do not exist. Nor can I prove that the world and everything in it was not created by an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/i-cannot-prove-that-gods-do-not-exist-nor-can-i-prove-that-the-world/) [Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/) > [It is not for the gods to decide whether or not Man exists - it is for Man to decide whether or not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-michael-straczynski/it-is-not-for-the-gods-to-decide-whether-or-not-man-exists-it-is-for/) [J. Michael Straczynski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-michael-straczynski/) > [But ask yourself this Eragon: If gods exist, have they been good custodians of alagaesia? 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Philosophy, according to him, had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/protagoras-did-not-know-if-the-gods-exist-but-he-held-in-any-case/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [There is no reason for believing that any sort of gods exist, and quite good reasons for believing that they do not exist and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/there-is-no-reason-for-believing-that-any-sort-of-gods-exist-and/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [The gods exist only in which there are believers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tivea/the-gods-exist-only-in-which-there-are-believers/) [Tivea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tivea/) > [It is expedient that there should be gods, and, since it is expedient, let us believe that gods exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/it-is-expedient-that-there-should-be-gods-and-since-it-is-expedient/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [On the subject of the nature of the gods, the first question is Do the gods exist or do the not? It is difficult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/on-the-subject-of-the-nature-of-the-gods-the-first-question-is-do-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [There is exactly the same degree of possibility and likelihood of the existence of the Christian God as there is of the existence of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/there-is-exactly-the-same-degree-of-possibility-and-likelihood-of-the/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) ## More by Marcus Aurelius > [A man should be upright, not kept upright.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/a-man-should-be-upright-not-kept-upright/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [Everything is mere opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/everything-is-mere-opinion/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [If any man has done wrong, the harm is his own. But perhaps he has not done wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/if-any-man-has-done-wrong-the-harm-is-his-own-but-perhaps-he-has-not/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [Pray look upon the plants and birds, the ants, spiders, and bees, and you will see them all exerting their nature, and busy in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/pray-look-upon-the-plants-and-birds-the-ants-spiders-and-bees-and-you/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [“We should remark the grace and fascination that there is even in the incidentals of Nature's processes.. When a loaf of bread,. for instance,.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/we-should-remark-the-grace-and-fascination-that-there-is-even-in-the/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [My true Self is free. I cannot be contained.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/my-true-self-is-free-i-cannot-be-contained/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [The best revenge is to be unlike him who performed the injury.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/the-best-revenge-is-to-be-unlike-him-who-performed-the-injury/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [Nothing befalls any man which he is not fitted to endure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/nothing-befalls-any-man-which-he-is-not-fitted-to-endure/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [Adorn thyself with simplicity and with indifference towards the things which lie between virtue and vice. Love mankind. Follow God. The poet says that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/adorn-thyself-with-simplicity-and-with-indifference-towards-the/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [Let it be your constant method to look into the design of people's actions, and see what they would be at, as often as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/let-it-be-your-constant-method-to-look-into-the-design-of-people-s/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [“Our life is a warfare, and a mere pilgrimage.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/our-life-is-a-warfare-and-a-mere-pilgrimage/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [“If therefore it be a thing external that causes thy grief, know, that it is not that properly that doth cause it, but thine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/if-therefore-it-be-a-thing-external-that-causes-thy-grief-know-that/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [Frightened of change? But what can exist without it? What's closer to nature's heart? Can you take a hot bath and leave the firewood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/frightened-of-change-but-what-can-exist-without-it-what-s-closer-to/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [We are too much accustomed to attribute to a single cause that which is the product of several, and the majority of our controversies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/we-are-too-much-accustomed-to-attribute-to-a-single-cause-that-which/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [“At dawn, when you have trouble getting out of bed, tell yourself, "I have to go to work - as a human being. What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/at-dawn-when-you-have-trouble-getting-out-of-bed-tell-yourself-i-have/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) [Explore all 1,138 Marcus Aurelius quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) ## More Gods quotes > [“Is that what they teach you at the convent? That the gods demand the hearts from our bodies?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-lafevers/is-that-what-they-teach-you-at-the-convent-that-the-gods-demand-the/) [Robin LaFevers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-lafevers/) > [What Gods do you believe in? I'll build you a temple of mirrors so you can see them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-gibson/what-gods-do-you-believe-in-i-ll-build-you-a-temple-of-mirrors-so-you/) [Andrea Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-gibson/) > [Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/against-stupidity-the-gods-themselves-contend-in-vain/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Do you see those dull stars?" She outlined the formation with her finger. "A pentagram," whispered Scott. "Yes, but not just any pentagram. Take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-mattie/do-you-see-those-dull-stars-she-outlined-the-formation-with-her/) [Katie Mattie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-mattie/) > [How do you explain a person like Asha Bhosle? A star or a super star or just someone from the Gods.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anu-malik/how-do-you-explain-a-person-like-asha-bhosle-a-star-or-a-super-star/) [Anu Malik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anu-malik/) > [“Once upon a time, there was a man as great as the gods… But even the great can tremble with fear. Even the great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-e-pearson/once-upon-a-time-there-was-a-man-as-great-as-the-gods-but-even-the/) [Mary E. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-e-pearson/) > [“Aeneas' mother is a star?" "No; a goddess." I said cautiously, "Venus is the power that we invoke in spring, in the garden, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/aeneas-mother-is-a-star-no-a-goddess-i-said-cautiously-venus-is-the/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) > [“Holy gods. He'd frozen the whole damn lake. He was THAT powerful?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/holy-gods-he-d-frozen-the-whole-damn-lake-he-was-that-powerful/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“The Gods know what it is to be eternal, and they love to toy with mortals who use absolutes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-angelini/the-gods-know-what-it-is-to-be-eternal-and-they-love-to-toy-with/) [Josephine Angelini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-angelini/) > [“It was suffering and incapacity that created all afterworlds - this, and that brief madness of bliss which is experienced only by those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/it-was-suffering-and-incapacity-that-created-all-afterworlds-this-and/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“The natural gods of men are other men, mythic or real, who embody manhood in men's eyes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-donovan/the-natural-gods-of-men-are-other-men-mythic-or-real-who-embody/) [Jack Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-donovan/) > [“Every nation is part of the history we inherit, blacks and whites, slaves and gods; we have no other option, embracing each other.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-moonzajer/every-nation-is-part-of-the-history-we-inherit-blacks-and-whites/) [M.F. Moonzajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-moonzajer/) > [Ancient societies had anthropomorphic gods: a huge pantheon expanding into centuries of dynastic drama; fathers and sons, martyred heroes, star-crossed lovers, the deaths of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hiddleston/ancient-societies-had-anthropomorphic-gods-a-huge-pantheon-expanding/) [Tom Hiddleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hiddleston/) > [It is convenient that there be gods, and, as it is convenient, let us believe there are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/it-is-convenient-that-there-be-gods-and-as-it-is-convenient-let-us/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Astrology reveals the will of the gods.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juvenal/astrology-reveals-the-will-of-the-gods/) [Juvenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juvenal/) [Browse all 1,461 Gods quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gods/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“You may leave this life at any moment: have this possibility in your mind in all that you do or say or think. 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